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David Cage Comments On Importance Of Heavy Rain Scores

It's always interesting to hear how a creator responds to the responses. So what did Quantic Dream boss David Cage think about the reviews for Heavy Rain?

Well, you should read his lengthy blog post in regards to the game's launch; the previews, critical response, and how the game rolled out in Europe. Given the "non-consensus nature" of the game in question, Cage had been expecting a wide range of scores, but as we know by now, most all of the major sources really loved the experience. Said Cage:

"The scores are closer together than I expected. I was expecting a wide range of scores, given the "non-consensus" nature of Heavy Rain, but overall they turn out to be very good, like the first reviews. The articles vary in their content and are more or less interesting in their analyses, more or less superficial, but overall, they all say the same thing: Heavy Rain has met its target. The story holds together, the emotion is there, the interface is surprising but fits the format pretty well. Relief."

He went on to say he's received "an enormous amount of flack" over the past years and that if Heavy Rain didn't live up to expectations, he'd never be able to live it down. He makes an excellent point of adding that when you try to make something that's either "ambitious" or "atypical," credibility is absolutely crucial. But the critics really rewarded his efforts and when all is said and done, "the unpleasant articles can be counted on the fingers of one hand." Cage isn't about to ignore the reviews that did voice legitimate complaints but at the same time, he appreciates those of us who saw his game for what it was: a change.

"Of course there were also a few negative articles with reasoned arguments that defended a point of view in a coherent fashion, as there were positive articles without any real analysis, but overall, Heavy Rain enabled us to see where the last outposts of stubborn conservativism lie, the ones where they think that the last thing video games should do is try to change, just stay where they've been for the last twenty years while improving a little (though not too much). In the end of the day, this resistance is extremely marginal, much more so than I expected. The vast majority of the international press is avid for change."

Yeah, he waited on those first review scores "with a certain degree of nervousness," and that the very survival of Quantic Dream depended on those scores. He said that; not us. This wasn't a sequel in an established franchise; this was a brand new IP featuring a concept that may or may not resonate with the majority of gamers. If the average scores had been 5s and 6s, Cage's studio could very well have folded. He said those scores "are the best guarantee of my artistic freedom for my next project, the level of confidence I can demand, my legitimacy." Well, Mr. Cage, I suppose I could talk for a while about how Heavy Rain delivered in every sense of the word, but for brevity's sake, I'll just say this-

Ben, tell that to those MW2 players who are on prestige level, nukes and whatsoever, its like its 72+hrs in a day for them, not 24hrs like the rest of us. I don't know how they find all that time leveling up.

www - yeah i was just thinking the same thing last night on CoD. I'm only level 15, although I stopped playing it for awhile when UC2 and Madden came out, but as I started leveling up.. i started to think how long it would take me to achieve all these challenges and how many hours these kids put in. I'm lucky to get in 1-2 hours a night of any video game time if any.

Platinumed-it already! Wow! Thank God I wasn't born with a trophy-fix! I do want to platinum it too though. Not for the trophy but to get the entire experience that Cage worked so diligently to construct. This game is simply amazing!

Gordo, i couldn't agree more... the Ps3 exclusives, for the most part, are really the way to go. There are a few really good multi-platform experiences, but you have to dig through the hay to find them and risk your money on them :)

Look, there is no doubt what David Cage wanted needed supreme confidence and believe to achieve it and make it viable - commercially at least.

The biggest "risk" he took (i felt) was the game "interface".

We have had FMV type games already on the PC, but they were more experimental, and never really good.

My honest opinion is this... simply put...

Whilst the Ps3 is a good machine, and still is... Cage was pushing the limits; you can see it; the characters are packing in the polygons, whilst sometimes (not always) it is evident that the environments and interact-able objects suffer in detail and can look quite low-polygon. The screen tearing and jittery audio attests to the fact that the hardware was peaking out in some of the more complex scenes.

What does this mean then, does it mean the games is not "ground-breaking", or does it mean it does not achieve its full potential?

No, not at all, what it means to me... and excitedly so, is that on newer more powerful hardware, like a PS4 (or beyond), Cage will have some amazing hardware available to express his creativity and push the "Interactive Drama" genre ever forward...

All in all "Heavy Rain" marks a "good day" in the calendar of video game production (and history for that matter).

Change is good, and it will get even better in the not too distant future...

I think that's the whole point of what heavy rain was doing for me though, pushing the limits. I was completely cool with the rare cases of those issues, as it's still on a far greater level than most games right now.

I'm honestly happy with more of this level just on the ps3 alone further optimized, they say they can improve upon uncharted so y not heavy rain?

From what i've read from several developers i'm not even sure if it is the hardware being maxed out. Most devs who focus on the ps3 say that the more they use it the more they learn to tap into its power and draw more from it. Who know maybe we won't have to wait for ps4!

My hubby has played it twice now, I have yet to play it due to him hogging the ps3, me thinking i need another PS3?? Can't wait to redeem my code but if I do i know I defently won't see the system until he finishes hes really addicted to HR.

only 3 things disappointed me with this.1 its been in development for 4 freaking years but is buggy enough to put mercenaries 2 to shame!frame rate drops, pop in, screen tearing, freezing, audio drop outs. you name it heavy rains got it!

2 its no where near as open and in depth as i was expecting, and as david and sony have been tooting.almost everything that happens in heavy rain has to happen, no matter what you do you can not change the story or what happens.i was expecting it to be like a train stopping at certain stops and if i did a particular thing the train would leave platform A and go to platform B.but thats not what happens, what happens is you may miss a stop but where you end up is still exactly the same.the only thing that changes slightly is the endings, but thats about it.even when or should i say if a character dies the story or what happens does not really change, you just miss lots of stops.the destination is still the same.ive finished heavy rain 3 times now passing all the trials on one, failing all of them on one and even letting some of the characters die one one of them.still the outcome on all 3 has almost been exactly the same.

3 the DLC the taxidermist.this one was free since i got the LE but the next ones im going to have to pay for, and if im going to do that sorry QD but there going to need to last much longer than 5 minutes.i played the taxidermist and it was heart pounding, so tense you have to be freaking NUTS! to do that but still way to short!does not really make seance to the story either.is that whats kept madison up during the whole game?thats one thing thats never explained, what caused madison to have sever sleeping problems?i hope they keep on the trend of prequel DLC for all the characters ill be first in line to download them, but PLEASE! make them longer!

You can never satisfy some people. Mr. No Name is one of those. Dude, you should really consider seeking some help. Once again, your opinion is so far off from everyone else. Makes me wonder how you even get up and get yourself dressed in the mornings.

What the hell is wrong with you? You go and post the name of the Origami Killer in our Comments section? Christ, I have half a mind to ban you for a week.

And your questions concerning the Origami Killer show no brain activity whatsoever. Think about it for two seconds. Why is he doing what he does? Um...maybe you MISSED the scene where he's burning all the EVIDENCE he's been running around trying to collect? Maybe you missed that he desperately wants a scapegoat; someone to pin his crimes on?

Dude, if you can't follow or understand a story, don't go bashing on the game. That's YOU who can't seem to reason things out. You're complaining about absolutely nothing; the statements are so ridiculous, they're not worth reading. STOP making posts that lecture everybody on everything and don't EVER put another huge spoiler like that in a Comment. Got it?Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 3/4/2010 10:28:40 AM

WOW, I for one love that you have this abstract view on things, it guys or girls like you that question the un answerable and keep the mysteries interesting, Im so glad you pointed out that there was a spoiler because I dont have the game yet, but I think your view matters to.

Oh and even though I skipped his spoiler thank you Ben for deleting it because I had a moment of weakness and went to read it and it was gone. WHEW!Last edited by dart_driver on 3/4/2010 10:47:57 AM

well ben you obviously did not read what i said.and i quote."i understand that hes trying to cover his own tracks but what for? he goes through the game almost getting killed god knows how many times just for that."makes no seance what so ever, taking a massive risk for no positive outcome what so ever.not to mention his cover would be blown if the cops just happened to waltz in.